On Monday, Pope Francis responded a question about gay Catholic clergy promising not to “judge” homosexual priests. “Who am I to judge if they’re seeking the Lord in good faith?” he said, adding, “They shouldn’t be marginalized. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem … they’re our brothers.” The unexpectedly inclusive and conciliatory remark surprised Catholics around the world, who saw it as a departure in tone for the Vatican.

By Tuesday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is also the archbishop of New York, sought to downplay the Pope’s comments. During an appearance on CBS’ This Morning, Dolan insisted that the Church has long embraced gay people and that Francis’ answer did not represent a new tone or establish a more liberal precedent. “Homosexual acts,” he said, are still a sin.

As I was waking up this morning I hear an NPR story about this, or maybe just a news report, but I knew that this was coming. Anything Francis says that pisses off the regressives in the church is going to be "poo pooed" as soon as possible. I'm sure Dolan and the cabal were already digging through their cathecisms to find the perfect references to instruct his "holiness" on the proper interpretation of Yahweh's word.

What I find refreshing about Francis...he hates having a leash on him, and the regressive bishops HATE that.

What the Pope was asked was specifically about the clergy. Despite what is often perceived, the Catholic church's official position is that homosexual acts are sins simply being attracted to people of the same sex is not. It should be of no surprise that he's non-nonchalant about the question. Whether homosexual or heterosexual or somewhere in between, clergy are to be celibate.

This has nothing to do with homosexual couples or marriage. His answer only pertains to the priesthood.